SERENADE: safer and ecodesign research and education applied to nanomaterial development, the new generation of materials safer by design

Abstract

International audienceSERENADE is a French project which aims to develop and apply the “safer by design” process to create safer nano-products. It achieves this goal by combining knowledge and scientific approaches from a range of disciplines towards this common goal. This tutorial review presents the conceptual approach to “Safer by Design” and provides several examples of case studies primarily for TiO2 (anatase) present in paints and cements to demonstrate how the approach can inform design decisions. Particular attention is paid to chronic low dose exposure scenarios

Safer-by-design biocides made of tri-thiol bridged silver nanoparticle assemblies

“…In order to solve the issues about NP use, next generation nanomaterials are being developed following a safer-by-design approach. 12 In the case of AgNPs, it is crucial to limit Ag(I) release to the strictly required amount for the biocidal activity. Besides, it would also be interesting to avoid AgNP release from the product in the environment or in the human body for medical devices.…”

Making Nanomaterials Safer by Design?

“…Yet only three of these projects-NanoREG, NanoREG II and ProSafe-have so far engaged in a more explicit exploration of SbD by conceptualising it as a risk assessment framework across the product life cycle, that is, from production to usage and end of life disposal. The projects' commitment to making ENM safe(r) for human health and the environment, however, is to a large extent based on economic concerns: 'to promote the sustainable and responsible development and competitiveness of companies involved in nanotechnologies' [13]. On the one hand, one could criticise how safety thus becomes instrumentalised as an enabler of innovation and is not considered as a value worth promoting in itself.…”

A Methodological Safe-by-Design Approach for the Development of Nanomedicines

“…Even though various concepts of SbD coexist, they share the purpose of assessing safety as early as possible in the innovation process of a nanomaterial or nanoproducts. They aim at reducing adverse effects on human health and the environment by altering nanoproduct design (Soeteman-Hernandez et al, 2019) and by ensuring safety along its lifecycle (Bottero et al, 2017;Kraegeloh et al, 2018). The SbD concept is therefore different from conventional risk assessment approaches, which only consider safety when the product is already fully developed (Schwarz-Plaschg et al, 2017).…”